Record of my travels

私の授業 (My Classes)

Well classes are officially over here in Japan and I have 18 days left. I haven’t been as consistent with this blog as I would have liked to been, but hey, I’m in Japan. So in my finals days before I travel to Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe I would like to post details of things before they’re lost with time.

General Japan consisted of an hour and a half of classes every day using the textbook Minna No Nihongo. It was entirely in Japanese as well as teacher instruction. At first, I wanted to kill myself. Then, I found out if I looked up the lesson in English a head of time that it wasn’t so bad. (which was apparently what they’ve wanted us to do the whole time. haha)

Tennis was about the only sport I liked. I suck at it, but it was fun nevertheless. Except when it was 90 degrees out… Those days I skipped.

Fitness was fitness-y. Just worked out in the gym and what not. Nothing special there.

Kendo…what to say about kendo. It is an ancient sword-technique-learning class. I didn’t like it at all. There was at least one point during every class that I wanted to cry. There were 25 forms (originally 50, but apparently my class was slow) that we had to learn. Don’t get me wrong, when these forms are done properly and quickly it looks freaking awesome, but when you have to count your passes and start over multiple times it loses its charm.

Traditional Japanese Culture class was a great course. We did things from wearing kimonos and Ikebana (flower arranging) to playing taiko drums and folk dancing. That class was definitely a good one.

And last but not least Judo. Totally not for me. Too physical. I knew that going in and originally, but once it got too hot I refused to wear two layer of clothing, one that was stiff like a rug in 90 degree heat. Yeah, sometimes I act like a princess.

I didn’t realize how hard it would be going to classes everyday as opposed to my two days at school a week in Boston. There was a lot of adjusting that had to be made which consisted on me skipping a lot of school. Towards the last quarter of my classes, everyone pretty much had the same “I’m-totally-over-this” attitude. With that being said, in no way is this meant to be negative. I have loved my time in Japan and have loved what I’ve gained. But this girl is ready to go home.